Share this with

More than eight in 10 people believe that Britain is in moral decline, a survey said today.

The poll, for a new television programme exploring religious and ethical issues, found 83% agreed that moral standards were falling.

Only 9% disagreed, while a majority of people (62%) said religion had an important role in guiding the nation’s morals.

According to the survey, younger people aged 16 to 24 (68%) were more likely than older generations to agree that religion had a key role to play.

But almost one in three (29%) of all those surveyed disagreed that religion was important in guiding the country’s morals.

Results from the poll also showed people were more likely to help someone who had collapsed in the street than intervene to stop anti-social behaviour.

More than nine in 10 (93%) said they would help if someone collapsed – with those not following a religion (97%) more likely to lend a hand than those that do (91%).

More than half (61%) also said they would intervene if they saw two children fighting. But only 32% said they would get involved if they saw teenagers spraying graffiti and less (24%) would intervene if someone was talking too loud on a mobile phone while on a bus or train.

Issues behind the poll will be debated this Sunday on the first edition of new BBC programme The Big Questions, which aims each week to look at the religious and ethical questions behind the news.

Nicky Campbell will present the programme and a panel of four guests will lead the debate offering a range of faith and non-faith perspectives.

:: The poll was conducted by ComRes which telephoned 1,000 adults aged 16 and over between August 31 and September 2.